Mike, Medusa, and Sota walked through the depths of the dense jungle.
Warm winds drifted through the forest, carrying with them the scent of wet soil, old trees, and wild plants. The deeper they went, the heavier the air became, as if the jungle itself was breathing around them.
From every direction, faint sounds of animals echoed through the trees.
"Shuuuu…"
"Ahhh…"
Leaves rustled softly beneath their footsteps while distant cries of birds occasionally broke the silence.
Compared to the tense atmosphere around them, Mike looked strangely relaxed.
He walked with both hands behind his head, humming carelessly as if they were on a peaceful trip instead of heading toward one of the most dangerous places in the world.
Suddenly, Mike moved closer to Medusa and casually threw an arm over his shoulder.
"Heeyy… Medusa," he said in a playful tone.
"Can I ask you something?"
"If you don't mind, of course."
Without even looking at him, Medusa calmly grabbed Mike's wrist and removed his hand from his shoulder.
At the same time, he silently pulled Sota between the two of them.
"…Go ahead."
Mike stared at him for a second before sighing dramatically.
"You really don't like physical contact, huh?"
Medusa ignored him completely.
Seeing no reaction, Mike immediately shifted his attention toward Sota and placed his hand on his shoulder instead.
"So then…"
"Why is your name so weird?"
Sota instantly froze mid-step.
"…What?"
Mike looked completely serious.
"Sota."
"It sounds strange."
"Like… really strange."
The corner of Sota's eye twitched.
Then instantly—
he pushed Mike's hand away exactly like Medusa had done earlier.
"What kind of question is that?!"
"Who asks something like that so casually?!"
Mike blinked in confusion.
"What?"
"I was just curious."
"That's rude!" Sota shouted angrily.
Medusa lightly patted Sota's head before speaking in a calm voice.
"Sota. Quiet down."
Then he glanced toward Mike.
"And your name isn't exactly normal either."
For the first time in a while, Mike became speechless.
"…Eh?"
Sota crossed his arms proudly.
"Exactly."
Mike looked genuinely betrayed.
"You too?!"
Sota nodded seriously.
"Yes."
Mike grabbed his chest dramatically as if his heart had been pierced.
"This team is bullying me already…"
Neither of them responded.
After a few seconds of awkward silence, Mike coughed lightly and tried changing the topic.
"So then…"
"Sota, why are you traveling with Medusa?"
This time, Sota didn't panic.
Instead, he answered calmly, almost copying Medusa's usual tone.
"Because…"
"I trust Medusa."
"More than anyone else."
Mike's eyes widened slightly.
"…Oh."
For once, he genuinely didn't know what to say.
The answer had come out too honestly.
Then suddenly—
Medusa looked toward Mike.
"And why are you going to Jinki Mountain?"
The moment those words left his mouth—
the atmosphere changed.
Silence spread through the jungle.
Only the distant sounds of animals remained.
Mike slowly stopped walking.
The playful smile on his face weakened slightly.
For a few moments, nobody spoke.
Then Medusa quietly added,
"If you don't want to answer…"
"That's fine."
Mike lowered his gaze.
"…No."
"It's not that."
His voice sounded different now.
Heavier.
More tired.
"There's just…"
"…no easy way to explain it."
Sota quietly looked toward him.
For the first time since meeting Mike—
he didn't look loud or annoying.
He looked exhausted.
Mike scratched the back of his head awkwardly before continuing.
"I'm going there…"
"…to find a cure."
The moment he said that, Sota immediately began examining him from head to toe.
A cure?
But he doesn't look sick at all…
No injuries…
No fever…
Nothing strange…
Sota narrowed his eyes suspiciously.
Then suddenly—
his eyes widened in horror.
WAIT.
No way…
Does he have THAT disease men are scared of?!
Sota slowly opened his mouth to ask—
but before he could speak—
THAK.
Medusa lightly smacked the top of his head.
"Ow?!"
Sota grabbed his head and looked toward Medusa with watery eyes.
"Why did you hit me?!"
Medusa silently shook his head.
The look in his eyes clearly said:
Do not ask whatever stupid thing you were about to ask.
Sota quietly closed his mouth again.
Meanwhile, Mike let out a weak laugh.
"…It's not a disease."
Then—
his smile slowly disappeared.
His expression darkened.
"…It's a curse."
The moment those words entered the air—
both Sota and Medusa froze.
"…A curse?" Sota asked shakily.
Mike slowly nodded.
"…Yeah."
The warm jungle suddenly felt colder.
Even the wind itself seemed quieter now.
Sota stared at Mike in disbelief.
Curses were things people only whispered about in stories.
Ancient disasters.
Forbidden powers.
Things tied to death and madness.
Yet Mike spoke about it as if it were part of his life.
Meanwhile, Medusa quietly stood there, lost in thought.
A curse…
One of the Ten Great Families… carrying a curse…
Countless thoughts began connecting inside his mind.
Mike's unstable aura.
His strange behavior.
That unnatural pressure he sometimes released without realizing it.
Everything suddenly started making sense.
Sota swallowed nervously.
"What kind of curse is it…?"
Mike remained silent for a few moments.
Then he looked down at his own hands.
Very slightly—
his fingers trembled.
"Heh…"
"See?"
"This is why I hate talking about it."
His voice carried a bitterness that hadn't existed before.
For a moment, nobody spoke.
Then Mike slowly continued walking again.
The other two quietly followed behind him.
As they walked deeper into the jungle, Mike finally spoke once more.
"People think the Ten Great Families are blessed."
"They think we're special."
"Monsters."
"Heroes."
His smile looked hollow now.
"But nobody asks what we lose in return."
The jungle remained silent.
Mike's eyes darkened slightly.
"Every great bloodline carries something."
"A burden."
"A price."
"…A curse."
Sota quietly listened without interrupting.
For some reason—
he suddenly felt bad for Mike.
Then suddenly, Mike smiled again.
But unlike before—
the smile looked forced.
"So yeah."
"I'm heading to Jinki Mountain because there's a chance…"
"…I might finally get rid of it."
Sota slowly lowered his gaze.
For the first time—
Mike no longer felt like some strange cheerful warrior.
He felt lonely.
Then suddenly—
Mike looked toward Sota and grinned again.
"But if I die there…"
"Make sure to build a cool statue for me."
Sota instantly shouted,
"WHO WOULD DO THAT?!"
Mike burst into loud laughter.
"Hahahaha!"
"There's the reaction I wanted!"
The heavy atmosphere instantly broke apart again.
Sota pointed at him angrily.
"I almost felt emotional for you!"
Mike proudly pointed at himself.
"That's my talent."
"Emotional damage."
Medusa quietly sighed while walking ahead.
"…Idiots."
Sota immediately pointed toward Mike.
"He started it!"
Mike gasped dramatically.
"Wow."
"Betrayed by my own teammate already…"
The three slowly disappeared deeper into the endless jungle—
their voices fading into the warm forest wind.
But inside Medusa's mind—
one thought continued echoing endlessly.
A cursed heir from one of the Ten Great Families…
Just what exactly is Mike Celester hiding?